The Best Pacifier Options (Plus, Can They Damage Babies' Teeth?)

There’s something about a pacifier that some babies find unbelievable soothing. And much like parents will find with baby bottles, just because one pacifier works like a charm for one child, doesn’t mean it will work that way for another. It’s best to only buy one or two pacifiers from one particular brand and see what your baby likes best. That said, generally speaking, pacifiers have their pros and cons.

“Pacifiers are needed in the sense that they provide infants comfort most times,” says Dr. Shaun Flynn, DDS and chief dental officer at BURST Oral Care. “They also are known to help in prevent SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) by posturing the tongue forward so it doesn’t fall back and block the airway. However, it is recommended that children only use pacifiers up to the age of two because they can cause issues down the line. So I believe pacifiers are great to use, and in some cases a must, but just make sure the parents wean them off by two years old to avoid any developmental issues with their bones and teeth.”

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The Best Pacifier Options - Plus Can They Damage Babies' Teeth?

Fridababy Paci Weaning System

As we noted, weaning your little one from using a pacifier is important but it's far from being a no-brainer when it comes to execution! Many little ones can easily go till four years old sucking on their pacifier if they're not weaned. Leave it to Frida to simplify the stressful endeavor. Seriously, this set is not only genius, it's a must.
Philips Avent Soothie Snuggle Animal Pacifier

Take Philips' signature pacifier up a notch with this detachable soothie snuggle. While many (if not most) can agree that Philips Avent is the best pacifier, many don't believe that their child will like this version because it's heavy, but as it turns out most of those parents end up saying this is the only pacifier their child loves! When cleaning detach the plush toy from the pacifier. That said, it's still easy to clean using a sterilizer that also dries if you don't want to or forget to detach. For first use you can just throw the plush part in the wash/dryer (it comes out like new).
BIBS

BIBS is another brand that makes pacifiers that parents rave about and out of every one on this list they're the ones that marry sophisticated design and functionality best. The Danish brand, in a testament to their quality, has been around for decades. Also, unlike many other brands they clearly break their pacifiers up by size so you can easily shop based on your child's age.
Chicco PhysioForma Light Day & Night Pacifier

Don't go out in the dark without one of Chicco's PhysioForma Light Day & Night Pacifiers! Not only do most babies love them, they light up, so caretakers can easily find the pacifier when it rocket-ships out of baby's mouth.
Medela Baby Pacifiers

Medela Baby pacifiers are designed to help support the natural movement of a baby’s mouth and enhance airflow. They're also made without BPA and BPS and they have four styles for infants through 36 months (though, again, you'll want to wean your baby at 12-24 months).
Mam

Mam is great if your baby has sensitive skin. You don't have to worry about irritation and they have plenty of cute styles, so that you can easily spot your baby's pacifier if it falls out. Like Chicco, they also have glow in the dark options.
Nuk Orthodontic Pacifiers

Orthodontic pacifiers, like the ones from Nuk, ensure your baby’s top and bottom jaw are correctly aligned when the pacifier is in their mouth. Nuk says their pacifier is accepted by 95% of babies and won’t cause nipple confusion.
Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci Silicone Pacifier

If your baby loves Dr. Brown's bottles, try giving them one of these very durable pacifiers as they'll likely take to it too.
Nanobebe Flexy Pacifier

Soft and breathable, Nanobebe Flexy Pacifier is also ergonomically designed meaning it curves comfortably around your baby's nose and chin to stay in place and prevent it from falling out.